New Orleans Report: Drinking to Learn

Yes, Tales of the Cocktails was about much more than drinking and eating. It was also about learning about drinking. Just to prove that we indeed did occasionally act studiously, I present you a picture of two SF bartenders, Neyah White of Nopa and Stephen Liles of Boulevard, in class and ready to learn about ancient liqueurs. Unlike most seminars, you will notice, in front of each seat was not a pad of paper and perhaps a glass of water but a mini bottle of Chartreuse and another of St. Germain.

This was a particularly good seminar, though, as we were all given a taste of an out-of-production violet liqueur called Creme Yvette, last sold in the US in 1969. It was suggested that this forgotten ingredient might be back in production soon. I can only hope . . . it was delicious.